Prevalence and Determinants of Plastic Surgery Among Adults in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Social and cultural factors have a significant impact on body image standards, and the media's messages play a crucial role in shaping beauty ideals. People's perceptions of beauty can be negatively affected by social media, which promotes unrealistic beauty standards and can lead to a desire for plastic surgery. Plastic surgery includes both reconstructive and aesthetic procedures and has become increasingly popular worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, there has been a significant increase in the number of women seeking cosmetic surgery, particularly breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, and liposuction, indicating that cosmetic surgery is becoming more accepted as a way to enhance beauty.

AIMS

To investigate the frequency of performance of plastic and aesthetic surgical procedures among adults aged 18 to 60 years old in Saudi Arabia, as well as the determinants that may contribute to it.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional web survey with a representative sample (n = 3238) of individuals in Saudi Arabia was carried out from 10 April 2023 to 28 October 2023.

RESULTS

The study included a cohort of 3238 participants, with 1328 individuals choosing to undergo plastic surgery. Among the surgical subgroups, the predominant procedure of choice was breast augmentation, representing 1009 cases (31.2%), while a minority opted for alternative plastic surgical interventions. Notably, the primary impetus behind plastic surgery, as indicated by the majority of participants (38.4% of the overall 41% who underwent the procedure), was appearance enhancement. Examination of the participants' demographic profile revealed a predominance of women between the ages of 18 and 30, married individuals, predominantly having a primary level of education, with a subset working in the public sector. Furthermore, a considerable segment of participants (32.6%) indicated low income, while 31.8% fell into the category of obesity.

CONCLUSION

To address the multifaceted nature of plastic surgery decisions in Saudi Arabia, the key focus should be on promoting cultural acceptance, creating a supportive environment, and establishing ethical guidelines. This entails conducting awareness campaigns, promoting inclusive beauty standards, facilitating community discussions, fostering collaboration with support organizations, integrating mental health services, and ensuring rigorous monitoring of safety and professionalism in plastic surgery practices. By implementing these recommendations, individuals seeking plastic surgery can enhance their overall well-being and satisfaction.

Retraction: Measuring the Effect of Smoking or Tobacco Use on Vertigo Among the Adult Population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.38516.].

Measuring the Effect of Smoking or Tobacco Use on Vertigo Among the Adult Population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Background Smoking is widespread at all ages in Saudi society. In addition, complaints of vertigo are common. A key problem is how smoking affects vertigo and, thus, quality of life. Researchers have investigated the association between smoking and vertigo and found that smoking may be a risk factor for vertigo, but this association is not clear. The current study aims to investigate the association between smoking and vertigo. Materials and methods We conducted a cross-sectional study from March 2022 to January 2023 to investigate the effect of smoking on vertigo in Saudi Arabia's adult population. Results We found that smokers were more prone to vertigo than non-smokers. In addition, the severity of vertigo increases as the number of cigarettes smoked or the length of time in years that the person has smoked increases. Conclusion The findings of the study should inspire more research into the impact of demographic factors on vertigo among smokers.

The Effects of Hand Preference on Measures of Psychological Well-Being in a Sample of Older Adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Generally, being left-handed has been linked to poorer mental health and quality of life. However, given that few studies have investigated these links in Saudi Arabia and that the prevalence of mental illness in the general population is rising, it is important to explore whether left-handedness can be considered a risk factor in a sizable, general population.

AIM

To investigate whether left-handers experience psychological well-being or good quality of life.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study among adults in Saudi Arabia was conducted from March 6, 2022 to February 27, 2023.

RESULTS

The study included (N = 2862) respondents who met the inclusion criteria, with an average age of 28.95 years. Left-handed individuals made up 31.7%, whereas right-handed individuals made up 60.3%, and ambidextrous individuals made up 7.9% of the population. Using the Mental Health Quality of Life questionnaire (MHQoL-7D) scoring manual, the quality of life for both left-and right-handers was evaluated. Those who were right-handed had a higher quality of life than those who were left-handed. Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted, and the findings showed that neither the left-handed nor the right-handed group significantly differed in their levels of poor quality of life or psychological well-being.

CONCLUSION

Using the left or the right hand had no effect on one's quality of life or degree of well-being. Further studies with a larger sample size are needed to examine this result in more detail.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Prevalence and Determinants Among Adults in the Makkah Region, Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is among the most prevalent gut-brain interaction disorders and one of the most expensive in terms of money and health. Despite their widespread occurrence in society, these disorders have only recently been subjected to rigorous scientific inquiry, classification, and treatment. Although IBS does not lead to future complications, such as bowel cancer, it can impact work productivity and health-related quality of life and increase medical costs. Both young and older people with IBS have worse general health than the general population.

AIMS

To determine the prevalence of IBS among adults aged 25 to 55 years in the Makkah region, as well as the risk factors that may contribute to it.

METHODOLOGY

A cross-sectional web-based survey with a representative sample (n = 936) of individuals in the Makkah region was carried out from November 21, 2022, to May 3, 2023.

RESULTS

In Makkah, 420 out of 936 persons have IBS, making it 44.9% common. Most of the IBS patients in the study were women, aged 25 to 35 years, married, and suffering from mixed IBS. Age, gender, marital status, and occupation were found to be associated with IBS. It was discovered that there is an association between IBS and insomnia, medication use, food allergies, chronic diseases, anemia, arthritis, gastrointestinal surgery, and a family history of IBS.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the importance of addressing the risk factors of IBS and developing supportive environments to alleviate its effects in Makkah. The researchers hope the findings inspire further research and action to improve the lives of people with IBS.

Measuring the Effect of Smoking on Hearing and Tinnitus Among the Adult Population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of cigarette smoking is a significant public health challenge in Saudi Arabia, as it is a known risk factor for many health problems. Hearing problems are also a major concern, as they are invisible disabilities that can negatively impact an individual's perception, communication, and social interactions. Studies have identified various risk factors for hearing loss, including genetics, diseases, infection, exposure to noise, and demographic factors such as age and gender. Smoking has been found to be associated with hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, but the results of studies investigating this association have been inconsistent. It is crucial to understand the impact of smoking on hearing problems and tinnitus in the Saudi Arabian population to protect individual and societal health.

AIM

We aim to investigate whether smoking is related to tinnitus, hearing loss, or other hearing difficulties.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was established from March to August 2022 among adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to determine whether smoking can affect hearing.

RESULTS

It has been observed that smokers experience hearing issues or trouble hearing more frequently than non-smokers. Additionally, as the number of cigarette smoking grows or as smoking persists for longer periods of time, there is a rise in hearing problems/hearing difficulty. In contrast, there is no conclusive evidence associating smoking and tinnitus.

CONCLUSION

These results should encourage more investigation into the impact of demographic factors on hearing problems/hearing difficulty, or tinnitus.

The impact of COVID-19 on children and adolescents' mental health

Children and adolescents are more susceptible to the formation of mental health issues, since their brains are still developing. The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic response measures have disrupted daily life and left individuals socially isolated, including children and adolescents. In view of this, this study aimed to give a narrative review of the literature on the pandemic's effects on children's and adolescents' mental health, associated risks, and successful intervention strategies. There are still issues to be resolved to give children and adolescents in many regions of the world with quality, rights-based, and culturally relevant mental health care. It is difficult to predict how the COVID-19 pandemic may affect children's and adolescents' mental health in the short- and long-term. To address the mental and social health needs of children and adolescents after the pandemic, it is urgently necessary to perform longitudinal and developmental studies and introduce evidence-centered action plans and interventions.